--Disease Characteristics-- Diagnosis of metastatic melanoma that has failed standard therapy Measurable disease --Prior/Concurrent Therapy-- Biologic therapy: At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy Chemotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: At least 3 weeks since prior endocrine therapy No concurrent steroid therapy Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: Prior surgery allowed --Patient Characteristics-- Age: 16 and over Performance status: ECOG 0 or 1 Life expectancy: More than 3 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 90,000/mm3 No coagulation disorder Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.6 mg/dL ALT/AST less than 2 times normal Hepatitis B surface antigen negative Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No major cardiovascular disease Pulmonary: No major respiratory disease Other: Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No active systemic infections No autoimmune disease No primary or secondary immunodeficiency HIV negative